Switch-operating mechanism.



'melma Jan. 22,1918.

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Il. 5. musi. SWITCH OPERATING IIfIECH/IIIIISIII,

MPLIATIN FILED APILZLIIIQIT.

PQI-Im@ Jan. 22,1%.

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I @Houla and usefu y UNITE D STATE S PAA` OFFICE.

` nanonn E. neuss, yor anims, was'r vrnatm. i

smeren-OPERATING mEoHAmsm.

a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Elkins in the county of Randolph, State of4 West `virginia, have invented certain new Improvements in Switch-Operatin Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the fo lowing to be' a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an 4improvement in railwa ap liances and has particularreference A to a tram operated switch mechanism.

mally locked trip mechanisms on the main -line and sidin or'side track released by a. ,train passing t ereover and operated, by an element on the train,.to actuate a switch throwing mechanism whereby to shift the switch to proper position, sald trip mechanisms being again operable to return the switch to its normal position, when desired,

after the train has passed over the same.. An object ofthe invention is to provlde -an improved mechanism 'wherein the trip throwing mechanism including a rotatable y element of novel construction actuated by the trip arm of either trip mechanism to reiprocate a switch bar to which the frogs of the switch are connected;

A further object is to provide ari' improved device for operating a signal by means of the switch arm whereby to indicate theposition ofthe switch to an approaching train. The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical ex' res-- sions, one of which for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the ac y companying drawing, wherein-:

Figure 1 is side elevation of the switch operatnv mechanism constructed in accordance witi the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the trip and switch throwing4 mechanism being 'shown in horizontal section.

Bpecicatlon of Letters Patent. Application ledApril 23, 1917. Serial No. 163,955.

Brieiy stated, the invention includes nor-` Patented Jan. 22, raie.

Fig. 3 is a top -plan view of one of the trip mechanisms.

Fi'g. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig.

Fi 2. iig. Fig. 2. Fig. Fig. 2. l' Fig. 9 is a detail view oft-he contact shoes carried by. a train. Referring more particularly tq the draw-r ings the numeral 10 indicates the tracks of the main line and 11 the tracks of a .siding with which is 'associated a switch including the switch points l2.

The switch throwing mechanism which comprises one of the essentialI features of the invention is shown in what is now' believed to be its preferred form and comprises a casing or housing13 arranged adjacent the switch and having extending therefrom a switch bar 14 which extends transversely of the main line and is secured to the switch points 12 so that when said bar is actuated the switch will be shifted. The end of the bar mounted within the housing 13 is provided with a horizontally disposed roller 15. A vertical shaft 16 is fixed in the housing 13 and has mounted thereon a rotatable trip actuated element preferably in the 8 is a section on the .line 8-8 of V:form of a disk 17 having a hub portion v18 surrounding said' shaft, the periphery of said disk being provided with a plurality of radially extending pins or projections 19 the purpose of which will later appear. The bottom of the disk 17 has secured thereto in any suitable manner an element 20 having a plurality of concave surfaces 21 forming the radial arms 22 the outer extremities of which are also concaved as indicated at 23. When the switch is closed to the siding, one of the' concaved surfaces 21 engages the periphery of the roller 15 but when the disk 17 is rotated, carrying with it the element 20, said concave surface 21 Whichis in cngagement with said roller willforce the lat- 6 is a section on the line 6 6 -of.

points 12 to the pesition shown in Fig. 2, against the tension of the coil spring-24 `at which time the switch tothe .mainflinewill be closed. It is to be noted that, by reason. of the peculiar formation of the'arms 22` ot the element 20, there will be a slight movement of the switch bar 14 toward its original position before the roller,;1'5 sits in the concaved end'23 andalso that, by reasonof thev spring 24, there will be a slight yielding movement of the switch points 12 when a train is moving from right to left.

y The upper end of thehnb portion 18 which extends through the top of the housing 13- is surrounded and closed by a vtubular housing having an openingr 26'normally closed by means of a door 27 which is locked in closing positlon 1n any preferred manner so that access, by an unauthorlzed person, cannot be had tothe interior of said housing.`

However, it it is found necessary to inanually operate the switch bar 14, the door 27 may-be opened and a lever inserted into any one of the sockets 28 in the hub portion 18 so that the same may be rotated and thus actuate the switch. j

A signal 29 is preferably associated with the switch bar 14 and adapted to be operated when the switch is thrown and for this purpose the standard 3,0 ot' said-.signal'is provided at its lower end with argear 3l engaged by a ra'ck carried by the end ofthe bar 14 opposite thatwhich is mounted in the housing 13 so that when said bar 14 is reciprocated the standard 30 will be oseillated.

The main line'and siding each has associated therewith a trip mechanism for actuating the switch throwing mechanism and since these trip mechanisms are identical in construction, a description of one will suffice for both. Each trip mechanism preferably -comprises a trip arm 33 ne end ot' which extends vthrough an opening 3l in the adjacent side ofthe housing 13 and-is engaged by one end otra leafspring 35 to retain the `same in proper position for contact with any one of the pins or projections lt) extending from the disk 17 so that when said trip arm is actuated, in a manner to presently appear, the, end thereof extending.,r into said housing will engage the adjacent pin 19 and rotate ist the disk 17 to shift the switch.

The trip mechanism further comprises a casing 3Gv into which extends (be other end ot' the trip 'arm 33 which carries the contact plate. 37. 'A small coil' spring-33 lhas one end connected to the trip arm 33 and the other end to the casing 36 whereby to retain said trip arm in a normally retracted position. The trip arm ,is preferably locked in this position by means of a lockingmember 39 having a notch l0, intermediate its ends for engaging the contact plato 37`of said trip arm so as to prevent movement thereof toward the casingl. 'This locking member i :39 `is-'carnied "by the treefends "of al.' palr of strong/"leaf springs llliaying their other ends. fixed in the bottom of the casing 36 and having vertical -rods 42 extending there- 1 from, the upper ends of which are'secured tor-aidepressiblel element 43 preferably in the' t form of an elongated plate arranged outside Vof the adjacent track and adaptetl'tobe depressed by the wheels of a train passing thereover. The. depression of this element 43 will release. thev trip arm `so the same maybe actuated'by the contactshoelyone of whichjis carried by Y,each end ofthe train. se -When' it is' desired Itoffshift. the switch the shoe V44j is lowered` so `that the'lower end thereof will extend into` the'slot 15 in the y 'casing 36V ony the outer side of ,thejadjacent 'railuand engage the contact plate 37 4of the trip arm 33 and force thesaine intoiengag ment with anyone otl the pins .19. Theitrip arm is arranged at suchV an"ainglew`ith re'-4 spect'tofthe direction of travel ot the shoe 44 that, as the latter approaches ,the` oppo-` site side ot' the casing3 during its passage therethrough and passes out thro-ugh;the other end of the Yslot 45,-the saine will be-v come disengagcd'with the cont-act plate137 n y and the spring will then return the trip arm normally closedby the cover plates -16 to `protect the interior et' the casing 3o and said plates are yicldably retained in their normal positions by the springsn47. As the shoe etalv enters the slot 45 `the samoengages thead# jacent4 end of the plate i6 and forcesthe same outwardly thus permitting the passage of the shoe 44 through the easing. A

When `a train is -traveling froml left` to right and the trip mechanism at the leftin Fig. 2 is operated'tothrow theeswitch to ,y

cause the train to enter the siding and if ishatfterward desired to return the switch to I f its original position, as' shown in said figure, 110 a contact shoe 48 similar 1n construction to the shoe gli and carried by the rear end lof i. Y, t

'the train is adjusted to enter the lnnermsl'ot 45 toi-media the casing of the trip mech'- auism shown at theright Vin Fi`gf2.` This 1154 i shoe 4S will then Contact one end of a lever 49, the other. end, of whichvis, in engagement with the contact -plate 37 thusoperatilig the ii i ft'rip arm 33 to which said plate is eonnetgd y n whereby to permit' of thercturn of the tram 120A to the main linel if desircdQ". Shbiildxa ltrain be'rtraveling frcnrright Itoilettenthe main t i i line and is 'desired to' back the same upon the siding, the shoe 4S carried by the rear ot' the train is adjusted', it' it is found` neces# 125 sary to close the switch the, 'siivlii xg,uso: that the same will imssthroiigh ilieinner slovtfl` in iheeasing 30 ot' the trip mechanismshown A at the let't in`l1`ig`. 2. The contact shce lwill* `then operate, the lever 49,in said casing and 3 't combination with a main line. a siding, and' as justl described in connection with the trip mechanism of the siding whereupon the switch will be thrown to proper position t0 permit the train to enter said sidinff.

What is claimed is 1. In a switch operating mechanism, the

a switch therefor; of a switch throwing mechanism associated with said switch, a trip mechanism associated with the main line and siding, each trip mechanism including a casing, a trip arm slidable therein and actuated to operate the switch throwing mechanism, means t'or operating said trip arm when a train is passing in either direction over the trip mechanism, anda locking dcvicc in said casing lor normally retaining .the trip arm in aninoperatire position. 20

2. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with a main line, a siding, and a switch therefor; ot' a switch throwing mechanism associated with said switch, a trip mechanism associated with the main line and siding, each trip mechanism including a casing, a trip arm alidable therein and actuated to operate the switch throwingT mechanism, means t'or operating said trip arm when a train` is passing in either direction over the trip mechanism, a locking device in said casing t'or normally retaining the trip arm in an inoperative position, and a depi'e'ssible member actuated by the train to release said locking device.

3. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with a inain line, a siding, and

a switch therefor; of a switch throwing mechanism associated with said switch, a, trip mechanism associated with the vmain line and siding, each trip mechanism ineluding a casing, a trip arm slidable therein and actuated to operate the switch throwing mechanism, means for operating said trip arm when a t'ain is passing in either direction over the trip mechanism, a locking device in said asing for normally retaining the trip arm in an inoperative position, a depressiblc member actuated by the train to rel-ease said locking device, and means for returning said trip arm to normal position at'ter the same has been operated.

-l. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with a main line, a siding, and

a switch therefor; ot' a switch throwingl mechanism including a casing, a switch bar extending there'trom and connected to said switch, a rotatable element carried by the end ot' the switch bar in said casing, a second rotatable element mounted in said casing, and a Contact member 'arried by the second named rotatable element and engage able with the first named rotatable element to actuate said switch bar, Said contact member including a plurality ot' cam arms, and a trip. mechanism t'or automatically actuating said second named rotatableelement.

In testimony whereof, I attiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' HAROLD E. MOUSE.

Witnesses:

A. E. DANN, SnnrrizY TAYLOR; 

